With Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week just gone by, it’s hard to overstate the importance of life-saving detectors. The charity Nolan’s Story and Gravenhurst Home Hardware paired together in order to provide 100 carbon monoxide detectors to the Gravenhurst fire department, which will help the volunteers who donate their time there to better serve the community as a whole. It’s time to spread the all-too-important awareness of fire and carbon monoxide safety.

All right, so everyone knows they should have a smoke detector. But what kind? There are two primary types of smoke detectors: photoelectric and ionized, or both in combination. Ionized detectors will better detect hotter, faster burning fires, while photoelectric detectors will do a better job at letting you know when you have a slower burning, smoldering fire.

Either detector will do the job, but a combination detector will help give you the small bit of extra time you need to escape from a potentially dangerous blaze. Those homes without properly working smoke detectors are more likely to have fatalities in the event of a fire.

Once you know you’re prepared for a fire, it’s time to think about something else you can’t see: carbon monoxide. It’s a poisonous gas that could surprise you because it’s odorless. You can’t see it. Most people don’t know that the appliances in your home can give off this gas. So long as they’re working, carbon monoxide detectors will signal you that there’s a problem before you experience any symptoms from inhalation. It’s a worthwhile investment.

The best carbon monoxide alarms include specialized electrochemical-sensing technology to increase the speed of detection.

Sometimes it’s not enough to place these devices in your home. You have to do a simple extra step to make sure they function properly: perform a monthly check to ensure that the batteries are still working. If not, changing them is crucial and could save your life.

Depending on where you live, you might also reap the added rewards of early detection. Many homeowner policies will offer insurance discounts to those who can prove they have the right detectors installed. It’s mutually beneficial, so do the right thing and make sure you have both detectors installed today.

Everyone knows that cigarettes are dangerous, both first-hand and second-hand. They cause cancer and a variety of other serious health concerns that can become more debilitating as we age, but how often are they a firestarter? Believe it or not, cigarettes are one of the most likely causes of any fire, causing nearly 25 percent of U.S. deaths. There are about 1,000 fatalities annually after out-of-control fires are caused by an unwary cigarette smoker.

The victims don’t just include the smoker. They include friends and family, bystanders, and children.

In addition to deaths, there are around 3,000 injuries each year in the U.S. according to a report made by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). The dollar amount in damage reaches about a half billion. This figure includes personal and public property. The total annual cost when health care and loss of productivity are factored into the number soars to about $4 billion.

Even though fire safety precautions and cigarette fire awareness programs continue to be implemented all over the country, the numbers are growing. Other sources of fatal residential fires include heaters, electrical malfunctions, cooking accidents, and arson.

The reports indicate that more fires caused by cigarettes result in death than any other source. The estimated reasoning for this skewed figure is simple: if you fall asleep with a lit cigarette, you’re asleep. You can put out the fire before it spreads.

Part of the reason cigarettes are such a dangerous source of fire-related accidents is because of the way they’re manufactured. In order to increase the longevity of each cigarette, they continue to burn even when no one is around to inhale them. That’s great for the smoker who won’t have to relight after a sudden gust of wind or a moment or two in the ashtray. It’s terrible for fire statistics.

Cigarettes often remain lit in smoldering fashion for over a half hour before a fire begins. They most often start fires in couches or in piles of material that are required for the smoldering process to catalyze. Without this type of burning a fire cannot develop. Aside from preventing smokers from obtaining cigarettes, manufacturers could do more to reduce the chances of this type of fire by slashing the diameter of the product. In addition, the packing could be less densely filled and the paper could be altered to reduce the amount of oxygen flow.

Wildfires in California cause billions of dollars in property damage in addition to numerous fatalities. More and more people are looking to find out what starts these fires, especially since the number and severity of these disasters have increased over the last few years, according to New Jersey Employment Attorneys.

What Is A Wildfire?

The National Wildfire Coordinating Group describes a wildfire as a wild-land blaze that is both unplanned and unwanted. According to this definition, wildfires can take the form of escaped natural or prescribed wild-land blazes; illegal wildland fires caused by human beings; and any other sort of wild fire that is required to be put out.

Causes Of California Wildfires

Wildfires in the state of California can be started by any of the following causes.

Arson

Human beings have been said to cause some of California’s largest wildfires, albeit indirectly at times. However, some fires have been as a result of the actions of arsonists. One of the latest and largest blazes in the state, the Holy Fire, which started in Holy Jim Canyon in Orange County, is suspected to have been started by an arsonist.

Modern Equipment

Locomotive and automobile engines have been mentioned among the main causes of wildfires in many parts of the US, including California. Between the late 1800s to the early 1900s, coal powered locomotive engines were identified as one of the main causes of wildfires through the spread of fire igniting sparks. This led to the invention of the spark arrestor. This invention countered the release of fire causing sparks from these historic engines, as well as modern internal combustion engines and wood fuelled stoves among others.

However, all eventualities were not planned for accordingly, as one of the most recent and largest wildfires in California, the Carr fire is suspected to have resulted from the sparks released from the friction between a vehicle’s bare rim and the road surface after one of its tires burst.

Power Supply Lines

California wildfires may also be started by power supply lines located above ground. Strong winds, blowing from the Pacific Ocean for instance, may cause weak power lines to break or make contact leading to the release of fire igniting sparks. Fires may also start as a result of branches falling over the lines.

Over the years a variety of wildfires have been started by power lines in one way or the other; with Pacific Gas and Electric, the main energy supplier in the state, bearing the blame on some occasions.

Other Causes

Other causes of wildfires include burning debris, campfires, fireworks, cigarettes and cigarette butts among others. It’s however worth noting that these causes account for less than five percent of all wildfires.

What Is Fuelling California Wildfires?

Climate change and dead trees are also said to be among the main reasons why wildfires in the state of California are burning across larger areas and for longer.

Extended periods of dry weather with some period of precipitation in between combine to create the ingredients for huge wildfires. The precipitation encourages the rapid growth of bush and grass cover; afterwards hot weather dries out the vegetation, providing fuel for massive wildfires. Dead trees resulting from widespread insect infestations in California’s forests also work to fuel the blaze.

As more housing units are constructed in high-risk areas when it comes to wildfires, it’s also highly likely that we will see more fires caused by humans, whether directly or indirectly.

There are some lessons that we all really should remember and put into practice before someone gets hurt.

One of those lessons is about protecting property and family from fires. It should never take a group of kids perishing in a fire to remind us to pay attention to our smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in our homes.

Amidst all the shootings every week, Chicagoans seem to get complacent about fires in lieu of firearms.

It was a simple safety issue such as smoke detectors that led to the deaths of eight teenagers in a house fire in Chicago recently, with two other teens in critical condition in the hospital after suffering burns and smoke inhalation. The fire started in the rear of the house and there was a clear exit out of the house, but smoke detectors in the home were not functioning, so there was no alarm sound to wake up the teens so they could get out of the house.

This incident brought to mind reminders for everyone about basic fire safety in the home, which means taking care of smoke detectors:

Check them every month to make sure they are functioning, and the proper alarm sound goes off.

Change the batteries every six months, even if they never get used.

Make sure there is a smoke detector in every bedroom and on every level of the house, including basements and attic spaces that are livable.

In addition, make sure there is a fire door that leads from the garage or carport into the house and ensures it closes properly and can be locked.

The two surviving teens are fighting for their lives, and they will likely have a lot of work to do to get healthy again, assuming they get out of the woods and recover. Not only are there battles with internal injuries, but it’s likely that the teens will need some help with their skin, as fire and smoke have likely scarred and discolored their skin and the work will require skin grafts as well as other post-op therapies such as what might be offered as dermatology clinics similar to Unique Dermatology and Wellness, which usually have the latest therapies to restore the skin as close to normal as possible in the wake of such a horrific event.

It is a long road to recovery for those teens who survived. For the community, this tragedy is a stark reminder of how a simple preventive act like checking smoke detectors for functionality can be a huge difference between everyone getting out alive, and having eight promising young lives snuffed out before they even have a chance to start impacting our world.

Wildfires are sort of a double-edged sword. Of course, they are most notorious as a destructive force, burning properties and vibrant trees and brush anywhere and everywhere in their paths.

On the other side, wildfires can be very cleansing to the area in the aftermath, as the ashes left behind serve as food and fertilizer for the rebirth of the area, as has been seen in several western states following massive fires.

No matter which side you fall on, wildfires that are active do put a lot of land, property, structures and human lives at great risk, and they often demand massive firefighter response to contain and eventually extinguish them so as to eliminate the risk to property and human life.

But do you notice that even as the fire grows and as personnel comes onto the scene to fight the blaze, that these wildfires are ultimately difficult to contain even after all of the firefighting assets are in place and doing the work?

Fire, especially when it grows beyond a campfire or fireplace, starts to take on its own personality – humanlike in that it can be unpredictable and create its own environment in which to thrive. And often, firefighters have to think “like the fire” and “be” the fire in order to stay safe and be able to successfully fight it and subdue it.

What makes a wildfire so difficult to contain? We can look at the Mendocino Complex fire in California, which was still burning as the largest wildfire in California’s history. A fire this large will have many factors in its favor to keep burning for a while, even as fire crews have continued to fight the blaze for the better part of a month now.

The challenge is that firefighters need less heat and more humidity, but most wildfires occur in seasons when it is dry and hot. Those conditions have prevailed most of the time at Mendocino Complex, though firefighters have gotten breaks with increased humidity at night recently.

Many wildfires don’t burn in flat area with little or no brush. They are often in very rugged, mountainous, and sometimes dense forest land. The kind of terrain that is very difficult for humans and vehicles to get to, and forests are obviously ripe areas to add fuel to a fire.

Wind can change on a dime, which is why were put it separate from weather. Whether humid or dry, rainy or sunny, the existence or non-existence of wind can dramatically affect a fire. A gust from the south one minute can push a fire into a barrier, while a flip to the east could send the fire right into structures or help it jump over a highway or other roadway.

Self-weatherizing. As fires get bigger, not only do they develop their own personality, but they become their own weather system. As they take up a lot of land, it can perpetuate itself into expansion by drying out the air and the ground around it, increasing the temperature of the area, and as creating its own wind I the direction is “wants” to go. This is where firefighters have the most difficulty; getting into the “mind” of a fire to understand its weather “pattern” and try to predict where it might go next.

As you can see and imagine, there are so many variables that are difficult to predict and overcome. These are the reasons that wildfires grow and are so hard to contain – and why they are such a destructive force in the western U.S.

According to the New YorkDepartment of Health, smoke released from any type of fire, whether it’s forest, brush, crop, buildings, waste or wood) is a mixture of particles and chemicals. Substances found in smoke include carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and particle matter (soot). Other chemicals found in smoke include aldehydes, acid gases, nitrogen and sulfur dioxides, benzene, toluene, and so much more. The particles released depend on what is burning, at what temperature and how much oxygen is available.

The biggest health threat from smoke is the aforementioned particle matter being released. These microscopic particles can enter your body through your lungs, your eyes and your nose. This can lead to a myriad of health problems including but not limited to:

runny nose

burning eyes

coughing

wheezing

difficulty breathing/shortness of breath

chest pains

palpitations

fatigue

nausea

long-term lung and heart diseases

Angina

Asthma

If you live in areas that have smokey areas such as California, safety protocols including setting up carbon monoxide monitors and having in-home respirators. In the event that you are in an area that suddenly sparks a fire, leaving the premises in an orderly fashion and finding a safe area away from the smoke is the best course of action.

If you feel that you are suffering from any of the aforementioned symptoms it is imperative to speak with a healthcare professional.

According to a criminal defense attorney Odessa, arson is the intentional and malicious act of burning or setting fire to another person’s property. Property includes and is not limited to homes, cars, boats, machinery, and especially those who own farms – the unlawful burning of land.

As part of the Gravenhurst Fire Department, we spend a lot of time investigating fires and determining the cause of the fire. To determine in the fire was due to arson we look at the following things:

Intent – in order for it to be considered a crime, the person must have the intent of destroying the property. Accidental fires happen all the time but that doesn’t lead to arson charges.

Property Damage – in order for it to be classified as arson property must be damaged.

Means Of Starting Fire – in order for it to be considered arson, the suspected arsonist must have means of starting a fire such as a match, lighter or explosives. Our elite law enforcement units use special chemical analysis to help determine the point of origin of the fire.

It’s also important to know that people who burn their own property to collect on insurance policies may be charged with arson as well as insurance fraud.

Depending on where you live arson is either a misdemeanor or a felony. The degree of the crime varies based on the risk of potential injury, the type of property burned, the amount of property that was damaged.

For example, an arsonist will be charged with a higher degree of arson if they burn down a building that was occupied versus burning down a building that was abandoned because the risk of potential injury is higher.

Sometimes determining whether or no the fire was due to arson can be difficult which is why we rely on our community members to help us. If you see anything suspicious at the onset of a fire such as someone fleeing the scene call 911 and report it immediately.

A house fire is not something you ever expect to happen. House fires can strike at any time of the day whether it’s the middle of the night or the afternoon. Even if you do everything in your power to prevent a house fire, you can’t totally prevent one from happening. If a fire occurs in your house, one of the most important things to keep in mind is to remain calm. Panicking can add to the chaos and create confusion. Also, it is important that you get yourself to safety and alert the authorities before helping others.

Some of the top causes of house fires are cooking equipment, heating, smoking in bedrooms, electrical equipment, and candles. All of these things have one thing in common and that’s fire. The best way to prevent a house fire is to take care of the little things. Make sure the stove is off when it is unattended, if you smoke, make sure your cigarette is out when you are finished, or if you’re leaving the house, make sure candles are out.

Tips for Residential Housing Fire Safety

House fires are very dangerous and claim dozens of lives each year. It is important that each household has a plan in place in the event of a fire. Everyone living in the house should be aware of the exits and know where to meet up with the family once they leave the home. We have put together a list of tips that will help you keep safe during a house fire below.

1. Don’t be lazy, react to the smoke alarm

We all know of a time or two when the fire alarms inside the house went off and we ignored it because the alarm probably had low batteries at the time or someone was cooking and the smoke caused the alarm to go off. While our reaction, or lack thereof, was okay in that scenario because there wasn’t actually a fire, a lazy reaction can be the difference between life and death in an actual fire.

When you hear the fire alarm going off in our house, get up and begin to investigate. These alarms are in our house for a reason. If the alarms are ringing, it’s more likely than not for a reason.

2. Exit through doors

The safest way to exit the house is through doors. Before you leave a room, feel the door with the back of your had. If the door is hot, the fire is likely near. If the door is cool, you are safe to exit the room and exit the house. Also, if you see smoke under the door, the fire is likely following close behind. Use an alternate exit if there is one.

3. Avoid smoke inhalation

How can you avoid smoke inhalation when the house is on fire? Stay low and cover your mouth with a cloth of some kind. Smoke inhalation can not only do damage to your lungs, but you may faint as a result of breathing in too much smoke.

If you find yourself trapped in a room with no exits, this tip will come in handy. Cover any vents or openings (the bottom of the door) in order to prevent smoke from coming into the room. In an extra effort, keep your mouth and nose covered with some sort of cloth. Smoke rises, so it’s important you keep your body as low as possible while you wait for help.

4. Stop, Drop, and Roll!

While we often catch ourselves casually joking around about the stop, drop, and roll technique, it can come in handy in a fire. If your clothes catch fire, stop, drop, and roll is a proven method and will extinguish the fire.

5. Call for Help from a Second Story Window

If you are in a two story house, call for help from the second floor. It is important to let the fire department or other household members know that you are still stuck in the house.

If there is no other way of escaping, you can try going out the window. Look for a ledge or something lower that you can hang on to. It is important that you face the house and extend your body as far down as you can before letting go. This is not the best option and should be the last thing you consider. If the fire still has not reached the room you’re in, it is best to wait for help.

6. After you safely exit the house, take a head count and call emergency services

You have finally safely exited the house. Now your job is over, right? Wrong. If you are the first person out of the house, get a head count and call 911 or the emergency services. Do not go back into the residence unless it is safe to do so. Entering a burning building can be difficult to navigate and should be left to the professionals.

One of the biggest threats to your life in a high-rise apartment can be a fire. After all, high-rise fires have been the result of many catastrophes in American history; claiming chunks of lives in one foul swoop. The smallest spark can have a life of its own, quickly growing into a blaze that’s engulfing the building. The scent of smoke and the roar of the flames rushing through the halls of the building will send high-rise dwellers into panic mode.

If you live in a high-rise apartment building, don’t take fire safety lightly. Even if you are a cautious person, another person living in the same building may be careless. In the event of a fire, remember to stay calm and think before you act.

Fire Safety Tips

We have gone ahead and put together a list of fire safety tips from sources like Insurance Information Institute. While some of these tips are specific to high-rise fires, most of them can be applied across platforms.

DON’T PANIC!

I know, it seems insane telling someone in the middle of a fire not to panic. Staying calm will help you think straight and remember the tips to come.

Even if the smoke is light in the apartment, don’t stand up.

While the smoke may not seem thick, inhaling it can be detrimental to your chances of survival. Cover your mouth and stay low.

Personal belongings aren’t worth it.

Don’t bother gathering all of your personal belongings. The only thing you should make sure to grab is your keys because you may need to turn back if the fire is blocking the stairwell.

Feel the door before opening it.

Use the back of your hand to feel if the door is hot. If the door is hot, do not open the door, the fire is right outside. If the door is not hot, use the door to exit your apartment. Then find the nearest staircase and exit the building.

If you’re unable to leave your apartment, wait for help.

If the fire is right outside your door, do your best to cover and vents or crevices that the smoke can seep through. The fire department even suggests putting wet towels or sheets at the base of your doors.

Don’t jump!

I repeat, DON’T JUMP. This is an important one. When you jump out of the window, not only will you supply the fire with more oxygen, but you might not survive the fall.

We hope that you will remember some of these tips if you’re ever involved in a high-rise fire. Always remember to practice fire safety. While another person may not, you can sleep easy knowing that you are doing your part to keep the building safe.

If you’ve ever said to yourself “it’ll never happen to me” about anything, then watch out. Life has a way of surprising us, and no one’s invincible. Sometimes fires can spread because of nature, sometimes because of careless personal accidents or sometimes because of the negligence of our next door neighbors. It’s important to be prepared, and fire is like everything else: sometimes knowledge is power. These are some of the common causes of house fires, so read on to see if you’re making any mistakes that could leave you homeless.

Distraction is the number one cause of house fires. This can remain true in several situations. If you’re a lover of candles, you need to remain absolutely vigilant. If candles are left near flammable materials, a fire may result. However, sometimes store-bought candles come in glass containers. These can crack or break, spilling wax and flame all over the place. Make it a routine to keep candles burning for only so long, then extinguish them. You’re giving your body a break, too: left burning for hours on end, candles can be carcinogenic.

People are also prone to distraction while they cook. We live in an era of kitchen TVs and smartphones that force our attention away from the task at hand. Cooking fires can be even more dangerous because people don’t know how to properly extinguish them. First, extinguish the source of the flame. If you’re cooking with oil or grease, do not use water to put out the flame! Cover the fire with another pot or pan, or, alternatively, dump baking soda on it. For larger fires, use salt!

These two causes of house fires can also result in a pretty terrible burn injury. If you get hurt while trying to put out a fire, seek medical attention right away.

Smoking is also a great way to distract yourself. Many smokers don’t pay attention to where the cigarette lands after they flick it away, and this leads to a number of unexpected fires. Try to smoke outside, and be sure to have a dedicated waste receptacle for cigarette butts.

It’s important to do routine spot checks of any electrical device you own. Make sure the wiring isn’t frayed or defective. All it takes is a single spark to burn your house down, and you’d be surprised how common those sparks can be–especially if you own pets that like to chew on things when you’re not looking. Avoid using water on electrical fires. These are best extinguished by removing the oxygen, but remember to pull the plug first.

If you have kids, teach them about fire safety as early as possible. Inquiring minds want to know, and even as adults–fire can be awesome. For kids, the urge is even worse. How does this burn? How does that burn? Teach them how to get out of the house, and try to keep matches or other fire starting devices well out of reach.